Chocolate Muffins, gluten-free and vegan

I've just posted a recipe for chocolate vegan, gluten free muffins on my other blog at http://christineeatsglutenfreevegan.blogspot.com/ , so if you fancy a little indugence, then why not pop over and have a look?

They're moist and have a lovely soft texture - not a cardboard like feature in site - trust me:)

triple chocoate flapjack - pure indulgence for the WI party!

Although I love Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, mince pies, Stollen and all the other delicious goodies packed with dried fruits of all descriptions (well, except bananas, of course, I wouldn't want to be ill, now, would I?) I know that there are others who dislike dried fruit products for whatever reason.  In fact, the top tier of our wedding cake was Victoria sponge as my ex-husband was just such a person!

So ... this is an indulgent treat for those who choose not to participate in the fruity side of Christmas fare - it's only fair that they should get a treat too, and there's nothing to say that you can't share it, now is there?

You've all heard of flapjack, and probably made it.  Usually it's a golden brown, sweet chewy bar, but not very exciting.  I hear you saying, but it's not indulgent.  However, this is triple chocolate flapjack.  Yes, that's right, three forms of chocolate going on in here, if that's not indulgent, I don't know what is!  No, it's not healthy - it's not supposed to be, it's a treat, and treats are allowed to be unhealthy - in fact they probably should be.

It was my local WI Christmas party this afternoon, and I wanted to take along something that was vegan, gluten free, but wouldn't make everyone run away in horror at the thought of it - you know how some people can be "Oh, it's vegan, I don't eat vegan food!", or  "Oh, well, I won't have any because I can eat normal foods."  I decided to make these to take along as most people eat chocolate, and they look "normal"!  

Alas, my cupboard had run out of golden syrup, so I had to make an emergency dash down the road to buy some before I could continue with the baking.  Still, the excercise must have burned off at least half a slice worth of calories, mustn't it? :-)

Triple Chocolate Flapjack

100g margarine
75 g golden syrup
75g soft brown sugar
75g plain chocolate
290g rolled oats
40g cocoa
plus
50g plain chocolate for topping - you could go mad here, and use one of the lovely spiced bars - well, it is Christmas!

Put the oven on to heat at 180C, gas 4, 350F.  Grease a shallow baking tin approx 11" by 7", or line with silicone, or non-stick sheet if you prefer.

Melt the syrup, margarine, sugar and 75g chocolate in a large glass bowl in the microwave, or in a saucepan if you prefer.
Sieve the cocoa and mix with the oats.  Stir into the melted ingredients.

Spoon into the prepared tin and bake for about half an hour until firming nicely.  Allow to cool in the tin for about five minutes, then mark into fingers or squares and allow to go cold.  I was told that only 'finger food' should be taken for the party, so I cut mine into small squares so that they looked dainty, rather than the more usual finger shapes.

When cold, remove from the tin and break into the shapes you marked.

Melt the 50g of plain chocolate and spread over the fingers or squares.

I placed each square in a paper case as they were going to be on the buffet table.

Enjoy.  Or, give to someone else to enjoy!



easy vegan chocolate(or carob) truffles with almonds

I went to a birthday party yesterday, and took along some home made chocolate truffles.  They are truly easy to make, yet melt in the mouth and are delicious:-)

and did I mention they're chocolate????

All you need is:

100g dark chocolate
25g vegan margarine
1tblsp brandy or other spirit
1tblsp soya cream
150g icing sugar, sieved - yes, it is worth it, honestly!
25g ground almonds

Cocoa powder to roll them in and petit four cases to sit them in.

Melt the chocolate and margarine for about one minute in a glass bowl in the microwave until just melted.  Stir in all the other ingredients except the cocoa.  Mix together then put in the fridge for an hour or so to chill down.

When you're ready put out some petit fours cases ready, about 15, but it depends on how large you make the truffles, obviously!!

Take about a teaspoonful of the mixture and roll it between your hands to form a ball, then roll lightly in the sieved cocoa, put into a paper case, the keep repeating until the mixture is all used up.  The mixture will soften in your hands as  you roll, and you will end up with sticky fingers and hands, so it's a good idea to have a bowl of water ready to wash them in, this saves getting chocolate all over the taps ... now how do I know this???

Put them back in the fridge to store them.  I told you it was easy, didn't I?

If you are unable to eat chocolate/cocoa or tolerate caffeine, you can substitute carob, you'll see a bar underneath the bar of chocolate, it works just as well, but without the caffeine.